Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make a determination, based on credible evidence, that a covered individual (i.e., a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident) has been a victim of a severe form of trafficking.

Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 to authorize the Attorney General to award block grants to develop, improve, or expand comprehensive domestic child trafficking deterrence programs to rescue and restore the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child trafficking.

Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to include human trafficking and the production of child pornography within the definition of child abuse for purposes of such Act.

Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) increase restitution for victims of human trafficking; (2) set forth provisions for combating aggravated human trafficking racketeering; (3) allow state and local prosecutors to obtain wiretap warrants in state courts for investigations into human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and child pornography production; (4) increase penalties for offenses involving enticement into slavery, sex trafficking of children, child exploitation, and repeat sex offenders; and (5) revise the definition of the crime of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct to facilitate prosecutions of such crime.

Directs the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Innocence Lost National Initiative engage in activities, programs, or operations to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize or solicit children for sex.

Requires the Attorney General to audit grants awarded under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. Imposes limits on the use of Department of Justice (DOJ) funds for DOJ conferences involving more than $20,000.

]]>2013-11-192014-01-24T22:25:57ZIntroduced in HouseIntroduced in House2013-11-19T05:00:00Z17Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to specify amounts that shall be available for obligation from the Crime Victims Fund for each of FY2016-FY2020.

(Sec. 3) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to eligible entities to develop, improve, or expand comprehensive domestic child trafficking deterrence programs that assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial officials, and qualified victims' services organizations in collaborating to rescue and restore the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child human trafficking. Defines an "eligible entity" as a state or local government that: (1) has significant criminal activity involving child human trafficking; (2) has demonstrated cooperation between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in addressing child human trafficking; and (3) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan to combat child human trafficking. Authorizes such grants to be used for the establishment or enhancement of:

(Sec. 4) Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to: (1) authorize appropriations for FY2015-FY2019 for the children's advocacy program, multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution programs, and training and technical assistance to improve the criminal prosecution of child abuse; (2) include human trafficking and the production of child pornography within the definition of "child abuse" for purposes of such Act; and (3) authorize grants to develop and implement specialized programs to identify and provide direct services to victims of child pornography.

(Sec. 5) Amends the federal criminal code to allow state and local prosecutors to obtain wiretap warrants in state courts for investigations into human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and child pornography production.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to require the law enforcement agency that enters a missing children report with the National Crime Information Center to: (1) include a photograph of the child taken within the previous 180 days, and (2) notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of each report received relating to a child reported missing from a foster care family home or childcare institution.

(Sec. 7) Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) apply the prohibition against sex trafficking of minors or of other persons by force, fraud, or coercion to patronizing or soliciting such a person for a commercial sex act, and (2) provide that the government need not prove that the defendant recklessly disregarded the fact that the the victim had not yet attained 18 years of age if the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to observe the victim.

(Sec. 8) Directs the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Violent Crimes Against Children Program engage in activities to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize or solicit children for sex.

(Sec. 9) Modifies the standard for defense to a prosecution for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity to require the defendant to show by clear and convincing evidence (currently, by a preponderance of the evidence) that the defendant reasonably believed that the person with whom he or she engaged in the commercial sex act had attained 18 years of age.

(Sec. 10) Requires the Attorney General to audit grants awarded under this Act. Makes a grantee that is found to have an unresolved audit finding ineligible for an allocation of grant funds from the covered grant program during the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month period from the date on which the final audit report is issued. Requires the Attorney General seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the Fund from a grantee that was erroneously awarded grant funds. Makes a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax on unrelated business income ineligible to receive any such grant. Conditions receipt of such a grant by a nonprofit organization on disclosure on its grant application of the compensation of its officers, directors, and trustees.

Restricts the use of grant funds for conferences or lobbying.

(Sec. 11) Amends the Crime Victims' Rights Act to include among the rights of crime victims: (1) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement, and (2) the right to be informed about all such rights and about victims' services required under the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 and to be provided contact information for the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes an exception to the requirement that the court of appeals take up and decide an application for a writ of mandamus regarding a motion asserting a victim's right within 72 hours after the petition for such writ has been filed if the litigants, with the approval of the court, have stipulated to a different time period for consideration.

(Sec. 12) Expresses the sense of Congress that child human trafficking has no place in a civilized society and that persons who commit crimes relating to it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

]]>2014-05-152014-10-06T20:17:46ZReported to House amendedReported to House amended2014-05-15T14:03:44Z36Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to authorize a limitation on obligations to be provided for the Crime Victims Fund for FY2016-FY2020. Specifies that except where such a limitation is made by a continuing resolution, if such a limitation is less than the amount specified for each of those years, all sums deposited in the fund in prior fiscal years shall become available for obligation.

(Sec. 3) Amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to eligible entities to develop, improve, or expand comprehensive domestic child trafficking deterrence programs that assist law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial officials, and qualified victims' services organizations in collaborating to rescue and restore the lives of trafficking victims, while investigating and prosecuting offenses involving child human trafficking. Defines an "eligible entity" as a state or local government that: (1) has significant criminal activity involving child human trafficking; (2) has demonstrated cooperation between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and social service providers in addressing child human trafficking; and (3) has developed a workable, multi-disciplinary plan to combat child human trafficking. Authorizes such grants to be used for the establishment or enhancement of:

(Sec. 4) Amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to: (1) authorize appropriations for FY2015-FY2019 for the children's advocacy program, multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution programs, and training and technical assistance to improve the criminal prosecution of child abuse; (2) include human trafficking and the production of child pornography within the definition of "child abuse" for purposes of such Act; and (3) authorize grants to develop and implement specialized programs to identify and provide direct services to victims of child pornography.

(Sec. 5) Amends the federal criminal code to allow state and local prosecutors to obtain wiretap warrants in state courts for investigations into human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and child pornography production.

(Sec. 6) Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to require the law enforcement agency that enters a missing children report with the National Crime Information Center to: (1) include a photograph of the child taken within the previous 180 days, and (2) notify the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of each report received relating to a child reported missing from a foster care family home or childcare institution.

(Sec. 7) Amends the federal criminal code to: (1) apply the prohibition against sex trafficking of minors or of other persons by force, fraud, or coercion to patronizing or soliciting such a person for a commercial sex act, and (2) provide that the government need not prove that the defendant recklessly disregarded the fact that the victim had not yet attained 18 years of age if the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to observe the victim.

(Sec. 8) Directs the Attorney General to ensure that all task forces and working groups within the Violent Crimes Against Children Program engage in activities to increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement personnel in the detection, investigation, and prosecution of persons who patronize or solicit children for sex.

(Sec. 9) Modifies the standard for defense to a prosecution for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity to require the defendant to show by clear and convincing evidence (currently, by a preponderance of the evidence) that the defendant reasonably believed that the person with whom he or she engaged in the commercial sex act had attained 18 years of age.

(Sec. 10) Requires the the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to audit grants awarded under this Act. Makes a grantee that is found to have an unresolved audit finding ineligible for an allocation of grant funds from the covered grant program during the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the end of the 12-month period from the date on which the final audit report is issued. Requires the Attorney General seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the Fund from a grantee that was erroneously awarded grant funds. Makes a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax on unrelated business income ineligible to receive any such grant. Conditions receipt of such a grant by a nonprofit organization on disclosure on its grant application of the compensation of its officers, directors, and trustees.

Restricts the use of grant funds for conferences or lobbying.

(Sec. 11) Amends the federal criminal code to include among the rights of crime victims: (1) the right to be informed in a timely manner of any plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement, and (2) the right to be informed about all such rights and about victims' services required under the Victims' Rights and Restitution Act of 1990 and to be provided contact information for the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Makes an exception to the requirement that the court of appeals take up and decide an application for a writ of mandamus regarding a motion asserting a victim's right within 72 hours after the petition for such writ has been filed if the litigants, with the approval of the court, have stipulated to a different time period for consideration.

(Sec. 12) Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) child human trafficking has no place in a civilized society and that persons who commit crimes relating to it should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; (2) the United States, as a leader in monitoring and combating human trafficking throughout the world, must hold all nations to U.S. standards; (3) those who obtain, solicit, or patronize a victim of trafficking for the purpose of engaging in a commercial sex act are committing a human trafficking offense under federal law; and (4) the demand for commercial sex is a primary cause of the human rights violation of human trafficking and the elimination of that violation requires the elimination of that demand.

]]>2014-05-202015-01-28T16:01:23ZPassed House amendedPassed House amended2014-05-20T15:20:52ZBy Mr. POE of Texas:H.R. 3530.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8[Page H7252]]]>Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdoption and foster careChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightCrime victimsCrimes against childrenCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsCriminal procedure and sentencingDepartment of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of JusticeDomestic violence and child abuseEvidence and witnessesExecutive agency funding and structureFamily servicesGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsGovernment trust fundsHealth programs administration and fundingHome and outpatient careHuman traffickingJudicial procedure and administrationJuvenile crime and gang violenceLaw enforcement administration and fundingLaw enforcement officersOrganized crimePornographySex offensesSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsTransportation costsTravel and tourismViolent crimeVocational and technical educationCrime and Law Enforcement3530U00332http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45349H.R. 3530, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 20142014-05-13T18:23:00Zhttps://www.cbo.gov/publication/45349H.R. 3530, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 20142014-05-13T18:23:00ZJustice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014HShort Titles as Passed HouseHouseShort Titles House of RepresentativesJustice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014HShort Titles as Reported to HouseHouseShort Titles House of RepresentativesJustice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013Short Titles as IntroducedTo provide justice for the victims of trafficking.Official Title as IntroducedJustice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2014Display TitleRep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2]PoeTedP00059281581802P000592R2TX2016-10-25T16:08:50ZS113Related billCRSIdentical billCRS2013-11-19Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8193-8197)1738Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 20132013-11-20T07:01:06Z2013-11-192014-05-15T18:47:33ZReported by2014-04-30T20:12:46ZMarkup by2013-11-19T15:00:44ZReferred toHouse2014-04-29T20:09:24ZDischarged from2014-01-09T18:45:11ZReferred toCrime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommitteehsju08Judiciary CommitteeStandinghsju00H. Rept. 113-450House2014-05-21Received in the Senate.113text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.Congressional Research Service, Library of CongressThis file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.